A_BLACKLIST of businesses in Tunbridge Wells which may be dodging the need for television licences has been released by the TV_Licensing Authority. High street shops, garages, bars and restaurants are all highlighted as top targets in a new blitz to ensure businesses are properly licensed.

The blacklist covers the 10 local business sectors with the highest potential evasion rates. All are being put on notice that they should check to make sure they are licensed.

National research has shown that one in five small businesses using TV at work either think they do not need a licence or are unaware of the law. Fines of up to £1,000 for these companies would cost UK small businesses a total of at least £50m.

Vanessa Wood, of TV Licensing, said: "The business sector research is part of a move towards more tightly focused targeting of companies which may not be complying with their legal obligations. There are an increasing number of televisions in use at businesses and it's important that companies buy a licence if they need one.

"We decided to publish the blacklist as a wake-up call to unlicensed businesses because many seem to be unaware of the regulations and the chances of being caught are very real. For example, our most recent activity with the hotel sector revealed some 60 per cent needed to update their licences."

The authority has been working behind the scenes with trade associations to let businesses know when they need to be licensed and will now be mailing businesses in the blacklist sectors.

A new task force of TV Licensing inquiry officers will be using a national database to pinpoint businesses which fail to buy the appropriate licence.

The Tunbridge Wells blacklist covers: banking and finance; bars and clubs; beauty salons, including hairdressers; caterers, including restaurants, cafes and take-aways; manufacturers; motor garages; book and music publishers; recreation, culture and sports centres, including gambling; shops and travel firms, including terminals, travel agencies and taxi operators.

Anyone who is not sure whether their business is correctly licensed can call TV Licensing on 0870 241 5590 or visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk for more information. A colour TV licence costs £112.